In a conversation on the program “Tu nuevo ADN” on Radio ADN, hosted by journalist Andrea Obaid, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA) researcher and Universidad Diego Portales academic Nancy Barraza previewed the main themes of the fifth edition of QuSantiago, the Quantum Computing School to be held on Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 April at the UDP Faculty of Engineering and Sciences.
The event, organized jointly with the Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), has become a key training space to introduce students to one of the most promising areas of science and technology. “This year we are especially focused on the applications of quantum computing to engineering problems,” explained Nancy Barraza.
The initiative includes three intensive days. The first day will be dedicated to talks and tutorials, where participants can become familiar with the fundamentals of quantum computing and its tools. Then, on the second day, the main event will be the “Quantum For Chile” Hackathon, in which interdisciplinary teams will work on solving real challenges.
“Students will form teams with participants from different universities and disciplines, which makes it possible to approach complex problems from different perspectives,” said the researcher. The areas to be addressed include mining, energy, lithium and telecommunications, strategic sectors for the country’s development.
Nancy Barraza stressed that quantum computing is not a distant concept, but a technology in full development that is already beginning to impact multiple fields. “The idea is to learn to model problems that are difficult to solve today with classical computers, using a quantum language,” she said.
The third day will feature the teams’ final presentations, in which they will share their solutions with the academic and scientific community.
One of QuSantiago’s hallmarks has been its open and free nature. Since its first edition, it has brought together undergraduate and graduate students from various institutions, fostering collaboration between universities such as UDP and USACH, among others.
Finally, the researcher extended an open invitation to anyone who wants to join this experience. “Quantum computing is already happening, and it is essential for students to get closer to it, learn about it and be part of its development,” she concluded.
